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Adrian and Melanie renovated the narrow galley kitchen in their Shoreham-by-Sea home as part of a £60,000 whole-house project. Their design combines oak and plywood, a black-stained finish, added natural light and a curved end cupboard to address limited space while creating a Japandi-inspired look.
Adrian and Melanie have renovated the narrow galley kitchen in their Shoreham-by-Sea home, combining oak, plywood and dark-stained cabinetry as part of a £60,000 whole-house makeover. The project, reported by Ideal Home, shows how the family worked with the room’s tight footprint while adding a west-facing window and changing access to bring more light into the kitchen.
The couple moved into the West Sussex seaside home with their two children and found an interior they described as a 1970s doer-upper. They considered where to position the kitchen to get the most light, but ultimately retained its original configuration. Instead, they opened up a window to the west and altered the access, according to the Ideal Home report.
Because the kitchen is narrow, fitting tall cupboards without making the space feel tighter was a design challenge. Adrian first sketched and mocked up ideas before the family worked with Wood Works Brighton, a bespoke kitchen company. The resulting design uses natural materials, including oak and plywood, alongside fluted wood and a black-stained-oak finish.
The material choices divide the kitchen visually while linking its details. Oak window frames match the cabinets, and leather bar stools brought from the couple’s previous home add a less formal element. At one end, a curved cupboard door and shelves soften the joinery. The report does not provide a separate kitchen-only cost; £60,000 is listed for the broader renovation.
How the Layout Makes Room
The project offers a specific example of making design decisions around a narrow galley kitchen rather than treating it as a blank space. Adrian and Melanie kept the existing configuration, then adjusted the window and access instead of describing a wholesale relocation. That approach shaped both the room’s light and the amount of usable wall space available for storage.
The mix of pale oak, plywood and black-stained oak also shows how a compact room can use contrasting finishes without relying on a single uniform cabinet style. The added western window was part of the rationale for using a darker finish, Adrian told Ideal Home. These are choices made for this home, not evidence that the same materials or layout will suit every small kitchen; light, dimensions and household needs differ.
For readers planning a renovation, the report highlights the practical value of settling the layout and access before choosing finishes. It also shows the trade-offs involved: tall storage can reduce the sense of width, while changing an opening or adding a window may affect the project’s scope and cost. The article gives a total renovation figure but does not break out those expenses.
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A Whole-House Makeover in Sussex
The kitchen renovation formed part of a larger project after the family bought a home in Shoreham-by-Sea. Adrian described the property as having unusual 1970s architecture and requiring substantial work. The couple’s aim was to create a brighter interior with natural materials, while the kitchen’s location and narrow footprint set limits on what could be changed.
Ideal Home describes the finished room as Japandi-inspired, reflecting Melanie’s interest in Japanese style and the couple’s preference for mixing textures. The report attributes the design direction to the homeowners and their collaboration with Wood Works Brighton. It does not set out a formal design specification or claim that the kitchen follows a particular standard or checklist for Japandi interiors.
“When we bought the place, there was a lot of strange 1970s architecture throughout the interior; it was definitely a doer–upper.”
— Adrian, quoted by Ideal Home
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Costs and Measurements Not Detailed
The report gives a £60,000 total for the whole-house project, but does not state how much went specifically to the kitchen, cabinetry, window work or installation. It also does not provide the room’s dimensions, a detailed storage count or a breakdown of the renovation timeline.
It is not clear from the published account whether structural work or planning approvals were required for the altered access and expanded window opening. The article presents the homeowners’ experience and design choices; it does not establish how the same approach would perform in other homes or provide independent cost comparisons.
narrow galley kitchen organization
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No Further Project Dates Given
Ideal Home’s report presents the kitchen as a completed part of the family’s wider makeover. It does not announce another phase, a future renovation milestone or additional work planned for the room. Any further details about the project’s schedule, final costs or long-term use have not been stated in the source report.
Readers considering similar work would need to assess their own room dimensions, light and access before applying the design ideas. The homeowners’ choices offer a reference point, but the article does not provide a project plan or cost estimate for other properties.
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Key Questions
Where is the renovated kitchen?
It is in Adrian and Melanie’s home in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, where they live with their two children.
How much did the renovation cost?
The report lists a total of £60,000 for the broader whole-house makeover. It does not give a separate price for the kitchen.
What was the main design challenge?
The kitchen has a narrow galley layout. Adrian said tall cupboards were difficult to fit without reducing the room’s width.
What materials and finishes were used?
The design includes oak, plywood, fluted wood and black-stained oak. Matching oak window frames and a curved cupboard at one end add further details.
What changed to bring more light into the kitchen?
The couple kept the kitchen in its original configuration but opened up a west-facing window and changed the access, according to the Ideal Home report.
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